Connect with us

International

MALAYSIA: 24 feared dead in Islamic boarding school fire

Published

on

MALAYSIA: 24 feared dead in Islamic boarding school fire

Tragedy struck at an Islamic boarding school in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia when a suspected electrical short circuit caused an inferno that broke out in a top floor dormitory of the school burning more than 20 people, including students to death.

According to a statement from the Malaysian Fire and Rescue Department, the outbreak which ravaged the Darul Quran Ittifaqiyah, a “tahfiz” boarding school for boys where students learn to memorise the Koran, was reported around 5.40 a.m. local time (2140 GMT Wednesday).

Read also: Florida residents count losses, as hurricane Irma destroys 90% homes

A statement by the Malaysian Fire and Rescue Department revealed that the fire began in the sleeping quarters on the top floor of the three-storey school building. It put the death toll at 25 people, but later revised it to 22 students and 2 wardens.

Kuala Lumpur police chief Amar Singh told reporters the boys who died were aged 13-17, and that they were probably suffocated due to smoke inhalation.

RipplesNigeria… without borders, without fears

Click here to join the Ripples Nigeria WhatsApp group for latest updates.

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now